Category: Press

49-image photo exhibition highlights iconic fight between boxing legends 

Miami, FL— January 25, 2024 — This February, the Washington Ave BID (Business Improvement District) in Miami Beach is proud to partner with HistoryMiami Museum to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic bout between reigning champ Sonny Liston and up-and-coming challenger Cassius Clay—later known as Muhammad Ali—for boxing’s World Heavyweight Championship. As part of this momentous occasion, we’re showcasing the significance of this legendary fight that transformed Ali’s career and life to follow. 

The festivities will kick off with a VIP invite only opening on February 22 at the site of the famed 5^th Street Gym. This transformed space, spanning 8000 square feet, will feature an immersive exhibition timeline, offering insight into the life of Muhammad Ali. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a special exhibition titled, “I Shook Up the World,” curated by HistoryMiami Museum. This exhibition showcases 49 captivating images captured by Miami Herald staff photographers on the unforgettable evening of February 25, 1964, when the world witnessed the historic face-off between the two boxing legends.  

“We are honored to host this tribute to Muhammad Ali, a true global icon whose influence extends far beyond the boxing ring. Washington Avenue played a pivotal role in Ali’s journey, making it a fitting location for this historic event,” said Troy Wright, Executive Director of Washington Ave BID and powerhouse producer of this tribute. “We are absolutely thrilled to have this event at the site of the legendary 5th Street Gym. We’re decking it out with such panache that attendees will truly feel they are actually getting to know Muhammad Ali all over again.”

Washington Avenue holds a special place in the history of Ali’s illustrious career. It was home to the renowned 5th Street Gym, where Ali honed his skills, and the location where he secured his first heavyweight title at The Fillmore on 17th and Washington.  

Chris Barfield, HistoryMiami Director of Exhibitions, emphasizes the significance of the exhibition’s location, stating, “This historic site is where Ali trained for that seminal moment in his history. We are thrilled to bring our ‘I Shook Up the World’ exhibition to this location and invite the community to experience one of the greatest sporting events of the 20^th century.” 

The exhibition space will be open to the public from February 23rd through April 1st. The Washington Avenue BID invites the community, boxing enthusiasts, and admirers of Muhammad Ali from around the world to join in this momentous tribute to a man who exemplified resilience, greatness, and an enduring legacy that transcends time. Tickets for the event are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for those under 18 years of age. They can be purchased here with the event link found at www.washavemb.com. 

A first look for media will take place on February 22 at 10 a.m. For inquiries, please contact Carlos Gardinet at carlos@washavemd.com or Lisa Mozloom at lisa@m.network.

About HistoryMiami Museum

HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate located in downtown Miami, safeguards and shares Miami stories to foster learning, inspire a sense of place, and cultivate an engaged community. We accomplish this through education, collections, research, exhibitions, publications, and City Tours. Now celebrating our 80th anniversary, the museum is a 70,000-square-foot facility and home to more than two million historical images and 30,000 three-dimensional artifacts, including a 1920s trolley car, artifacts from Pan American World Airways, and rafts that brought refugees to Miami. For more information, call 305-375-1492 or visit historymiami.org. 

About Washington Ave BID 

The Washington Ave BID is a leading organization dedicated to the revitalization and promotion of the Washington Avenue district in Miami Beach. By fostering community engagement and supporting local businesses, the BID aims to create a vibrant and thriving neighborhood.  

Venezuelan Immigrant, Carlos Muñoz, is selected for a $25,000 grant from The Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation 

August 17, 2023 – Miami, FL – HistoryMiami Museum’s Center for Photography is excited to announce the 2023 Photography Fellowship winner for emerging, local documentary photographers is Venezuelan immigrant, Carlos “Cali” Muñoz. The fellowship was created to capture and amplify community stories relating to Black Indigenous, People of Color, and Latinx community members. After reviewing dozens of applications, the esteemed panel including Aldeide Delgado and CW Griffin chose Muñoz to continue to deepen his Redland Market project that brings visibility to the stories and experiences converging weekly on this 27-acre plot of land in Homestead. 

Muñoz is a dedicated photographer committed to shedding light on social causes that give voice to marginalized communities.  Born in Caracas, Venezuela to Colombian parents, in 2015 he fled political turmoil for life in Miami.  In 2023, he began documenting the immigrant community residing around Redland, where nationalities of migrants, mostly from Mexico and Central America, converge.

“I am thrilled to win this year’s grant,” said Muñoz. “I believe this project is important in constructing part of Miami’s history – the history of immigrants, the history of progress, but also the history that includes communities that are not always visible but are still part of this great cultural mix that is South Florida.”

As winner of the fellowship, Muñoz receives a $25,000 award to support the continued creation of new work related to Redland Market. Additionally, select Muñoz images will be added to HistoryMiami’s permanent photography collection, various pieces will be featured in a forthcoming exhibition, and he will teach photo classes and lead PhotoWalks of the market with aspiring youth photographers. 

This project is made possible by a generous donation from The Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation, as part of the CreARTE grant program. First established in 2019, CreARTE aims to bridge gaps in key areas impacting the creative community most, including access to affordable workplaces, cultural equity, and education.

“We are thrilled to see Carlos Muñoz as this year’s recipient of HistoryMiami Museum’s 2023 Photography Fellowship. Our mission is grounded in empowering creatives to pursue their artistry on a broader scale, and we’re eager to see Muñoz’s remarkable talent grow and develop,” said Jorge M. Pérez, internationally recognized philanthropist and founder of Related Group. “In a city like Miami, flowing with cultural diversity, it’s crucial that every community finds representation. Muñoz’s work focusing on South Florida’s migrant history exemplifies the profound impact of art as a universal language – one that bridges cultures and fosters empathy.”

The Museum’s Center of Photography’s core mission is to collect, safeguard, and share photographic images that tell the stories of our community and illuminate the Miami experience, in all its diversity. The Center emphasizes documentary photography and serves photographers, researchers, and the general public through its collection of historical images (numbering in the millions), dedicated photography galleries, programming, and more. This fellowship project intentionally aligns with the museum’s desire to address representational gaps in past collaborations, our collection, and the stories featured in our exhibitions and programs.  

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, HistoryMiami Museum is supported by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and the Board of County Commissioners. Support is also provided by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

ABOUT HISTORYMIAMI MUSEUM

HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate located in downtown Miami, safeguards and shares Miami stories to foster learning, inspire a sense of place, and cultivate an engaged community. We accomplish this through education, collections, research, exhibitions, publications, and City Tours. Now celebrating our 80th anniversary, the museum is a 70,000-square-foot facility and home to more than two million historical images and 30,000 three-dimensional artifacts, including a 1920s trolley car, artifacts from Pan American World Airways, and rafts that brought refugees to Miami. For more information, call 305-375-1492 or visit historymiami.org. 

About The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation

The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation fulfills the philanthropic vision of Jorge M. Pérez, chairman and CEO of The Related Group, and his family to develop South Florida as an exemplary world-class urban center. The family foundation promotes sustainable, inclusive, and just communities by supporting programs and organizations focused on arts and culture, health and well-being, education, environment, and economic development – with a particular preference for programs and organizations that could serve as models for other urban centers. Since 2015, the family foundation has committed $38 million in support of 111 non-profit organizations. For more information, please visit www.jmperezfamilyfoundation.org.

The Traveling Exhibition Explores the Intersection Between Science and Legend and How Mythic Creatures Explained the Unexplainable 

(MIAMI) – June 14, 2023 – Larger than life creatures will fill the galleries at HistoryMiami Museum for its newest exhibition  Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids opening July 8,  2023,  at  the  downtown Smithsonian Affiliate. The exhibition traces the natural and cultural roots of some of the world’s most enduring mythological creatures from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond, and even how Miamians embrace their own mythic fantasies. Organized by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, in collaboration with Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau-Ottawa; Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta; and The Field Museum, Chicago, visitors to the exhibition will come face-to-face with a 17 foot-long dragon with a wingspan of over 19 feet, a giant Kraken sea monster with 12-foot-long tentacles rising from the gallery floor, and a 10-foot-long unicorn, capturing the imagination of every child.  

For centuries, humans have brought mythic creatures to life in stories, music, and works of art. On display are cultural objects from around the world including paintings, models, textiles, Chinese shadow puppets and Greek coins, that bring to light surprising similarities and differences in the ways cultures have been inspired by nature to depict and explain these unique and imaginative creatures. After all, it was Pliny the Elder, who in 77 CE, asserted that mermaids were “no fabulous tale,” and current sightings of Scotland’s renowned, but unsubstantiated Loch Ness Monster, continue to this day. 

From around the world to our own backyard, a companion exhibition called Mythic Miami features tales of the fantastical creatures inhabiting our waters, forests, and skies. Lasting stories of Caribbean mermaids, the Chupacabra from Puerto Rico, and Florida’s own Skunk Ape have fascinated Miamians for generations, while newly uncovered creatures make us imagine what else could be out there. Mythic Miami brings to life the stories and artifacts that give us a glimpse into the worlds of these extraordinary creatures.   

“We were so excited for the opportunity that Mythic Creatures provided us to dive into the stories behind the creatures of South Florida, like the skunk ape and chupacabra.” said Folklife Curator Vanessa Navarro Maza.  “With our unique environment and the diverse mix of people living here, there are so many interesting stories and legends to explore about creatures native to our region or ‘imported’ from other places. Mythic Miami dives into the historic and cultural context behind some of the creatures that have mystified our communities for years and caused people to wonder, ‘could this really be true?’” 

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids encourages visitors to investigate for themselves how cast fossils of prehistoric animals could have, through misidentification, speculation, fear, or imagination, inspired the development of some legendary creatures. For example, visitors will discover how narwhal tusks from the North Sea, introduced to continental Europe by Scandinavian traders, lent credence to the centuries-old belief in the unicorn, and how dinosaur fossils uncovered by Scythian nomads may have been mistaken for the remains of living, breathing griffins. Persistent tales of undersea monsters may simply be sightings of real creatures such as the oarfish and giant squid, which are just as wondrous as any imaginary denizens of the deep.   

Exhibition highlights also include: a 120-foot-long Chinese parade dragon, used in New York City’s Chinatown to perform the traditional dragon dance at the Lunar New Year; a replica “Feejee mermaid,” of the type made famous by showman P. T. Barnum, created by sewing the head and torso of a monkey to the tail of a fish; and four tremendous, “life-size” models of mythical creatures:  an 11-foot-long Roc with large, sharp talons swooping above the heads of visitors with a wingspan of nearly 20 feet;  plus two actual life-size models—an over-6-foot-tall, extinct primate called Gigantopithecus; and the largest bird ever to have lived, the over-9-foot-tall, extinct Aepyornis. Each item featured brings to life ways in which myths could have had their beginning.  

The exhibition offers numerous interactive stations and activities including rearranging scale models of mammoth bones to look like a giant human skeleton and Protoceratops bones to look like a griffin skeleton.  Visitors can build their own dragon in an engaging touch-screen interactive and watch it come alive before their eyes in a virtual environment. Videos include interviews with experts in various fields discussing the significance of mythical creatures and their possible real-life counterparts.   

Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org), in collaboration with Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau-Ottawa; Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta; and The Field Museum, Chicago.     

Pricing for the exhibition is $15 adults, $10 Students/Seniors, and $8 For Children. The exhibition is open through March 31, 2024. For more information visit historymiami.org. 

About HistoryMiami   

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About the American Museum of Natural History (amnh.org) 

The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869 with a dual mission of scientific research and science education, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses more than 40 permanent exhibition halls, galleries for temporary exhibitions, the Rose Center for Earth and Space including the Hayden Planetarium, and the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The Museum’s scientists draw on a world-class permanent collection of more than 34 million specimens and artifacts, some of which are billions of years old, and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, the Museum offers two of the only free-standing, degree-granting programs of their kind at any museum in the U.S.: the Ph.D. program in Comparative Biology and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Earth Science residency program. Visit amnh.org for more information. 

March 14, 2023

The University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities and HistoryMiami Museum are proud to announce HistoryMiami as the first museum in Miami-Dade County to earn the UM-NSU CARD Autism Friendly Designation.  The program acknowledges businesses aimed at creating welcoming places and spaces in our community for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities and their family members.    

As part of this commitment, HistoryMiami Museum launched its Sensory Sunday program series last fall in collaboration with UM-NSU CARD. Sensory Sundays are designed for families of children, teenagers, and young adults with disabilities who are neurodiverse, on the autism spectrum, or have sensory processing disorders or cognitive disabilities.  

“HistoryMiami Museum is so honored to receive UM-NSU CARD’s Autism-Friendly Designation in recognition of our commitment to providing welcoming and inclusive experiences for our visitors,” Hana Squires, Manager of Education Programs, Access, and Community Engagement said. “We are excited to host the Autism Friendly Designation ceremony at our next Sensory Sunday on March 26th as we welcome families from across South Florida to our space.” 

HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate located at 101 West Flagler Street Miami, FL 33130, welcomes individuals on the ASD spectrum and their families to explore and enjoy activities in a sensory inclusive and welcoming environment. Spaces in the museum will have modified lighting and sound. Guests will enjoy building block activities, a sensory room, and a touch tour of HistoryMiami’s permanent exhibition, Tropical Dreams: A People’s History of South Florida. To register click here.  

Admission to Sensory Sunday is FREE with required registration. Capacity is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have registered but are unable to attend, please let us know so we can open your space for another family. If you or someone you know needs assistance registering, please call 305-375-1492 or email accessibility@historymiami.org.   

“We are extremely proud of our collaboration with HistoryMiami Museum,” said Dr. Michael Alessandri, Executive Director of the University of Miami–Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD). “When families feel welcomed and accepted, businesses are better able to expand their customer base.”   

Organizations and institutions that are interested in the initiative can visit https://bit.ly/AutismFriendlyInitiative to learn more about providing helpful services, and amenities to better accommodate guests, clients and customers with autism spectrum disorder, as well as learn what accommodations can be made to host an intern or hire an employee who is diagnosed with ASD. 

HistoryMiami Museum is thrilled to announce the 2023 launch of Willy Chirino: 50 Years of Music, an exhibition paying tribute to a life and musical career that transcends generations and reflects Miami’s rich and complex history. The exhibition opens January 27 and runs through September 10, 2023. As a thank you to fans and the community, opening day will be free to all visitors! Presented by Leon Medical Centers, the exhibition documents the life and five-decades-long career of legendary singer-songwriter Willy Chirino. Visitors will explore his powerful personal story through a collection of awards, concert attire, photos, videos, and personal items that speak to Miami’s trajectory of growth leading to a diverse, world-class city.

“I am truly overwhelmed by the events that have been organized to celebrate my 50 years in the music industry, but none is more special to me than this exhibit at the HistoryMiami Museum, an institution that highlights Miami stories,” said the award-winning artist. “I always say that Cuba saw my birth, but Miami saw my growth. I am a proud Miamian and, as such, I could not be more honored to celebrate with my own.”

Chirino’s unique collection of memorabilia, assembled for the first time for this exhibition, includes: Chirino’s GRAMMY®, Latin GRAMMY® and Billboard® awards, the ensemble worn on his visit to Guantanamo Naval Base in 1994, his first guitar upon his arrival to the USA in 1961, a torn Cuban flag found on an empty raft that bore his name by the Coast Guard in the Florida Straits in the early 1990s, and personal letters from American presidents. These items and more will be on display at the 101 W. Flagler location in Miami.

The beloved Cuban-born artist came to the United States in 1961 as part of Operation Pedro Pan following the communist revolution in Cuba. He eventually composed and sang what would become an international anthem for Cubans inside and outside the island called “Nuestro día ya viene llegando” (“Our Day is Coming”).

“Willy’s personal story serves as a powerful reminder of resiliency following a difficult chapter in world history when more than14,000 children and teens became part of Miami’s exile community through the Pedro Pan exodus,” said CEO and Executive Director of HistoryMiami Museum, Natalia Crujeiras. “HistoryMiami Museum aims to tell his story well, respecting Chirino’s life, his love of entertaining and composing music, and Miami’s deep desire to celebrate a Miami-made music hero! His Miami Story is truly the story of the American Dream – one man who helped put Miami on the map with music that shaped this community’s sound and transcended generations of fans along the way.”

Chirino has recorded more than 35 albums attaining platinum and gold status, won the GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY awards, composed hundreds of songs recorded by artists, including Celia Cruz, Gipsy Kings, and Oscar D’Leon, and was instrumental in the development of the 1970s Miami Sound, a unique fusion of Cuban music, blended with rock, jazz, Brazilian and Caribbean rhythms. His accomplishments include being recognized by UNICEF for his work with the Willy Chirino Foundation, receiving the Billboard® Humanitarian Award, and the U.S. Department of State Hispanic Heritage Award.

“Leon Medical Centers is honored to be sponsoring this well-deserved exhibit celebrating my friend Willy Chirino’s life and career,” said Benjamín León, Jr., Chairman and Founder of Leon Medical Centers. “As a fellow Cuban-American who has shared similar life journeys, I am proud of all he has achieved and the way he has represented our community. I am delighted that he not only is part of the Leon family professionally, but as a patient as well.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Send media requests to Lauren Rigau (lauren@m.network) or Lisa Mozloom (lisa@m.network). Select high-resolution images are available upon request, as is b-roll of historical moments in Chirino’s career.

Some items from the exhibition include:

• GRAMMY Award, 2006
• Latin GRAMMY Award, 2014
• Billboard Award, 1998
• The suit worn to his wedding to Lissette, 1980
• Lissette’s wedding dress, 1980
• Ensemble worn on his visit to Guantanamo Naval Base, 1994
• Cuban flag signed by hundreds of detainees at Guantanamo Bay when he visited, 1994
• His first guitar upon his arrival to USA, 1961
• Original handwritten lyrics to his two iconic hits, Soy and Nuestro día (Ya viene llegando), 1974 and 1991.
• Original paintings used for two of his most emblematic album covers.
• Torn Cuban flag found on an empty raft by the Coast Guard in the Florida Straits- in the early 1990s.
• Electric guitar custom-made and hand-painted by Carlos Navarro with the Cuban flag.
• Dozens of Cuban flags among the hundreds given to him by fans at every concert event.
• The two suits worn to receive his GRAMMYs.
• Replica of the Beatles outfit worn by Willy on the cover of his album “My Beatles Heart.”, 2011
• Dozens of awards he has earned internationally, including Gold and Platinum records, proclamations and keys to various cities.
• Personal letters from American presidents.

HistoryMiami Museum is proud to announce a new traveling exhibition exploring the topics of freedom, equality, and civil rights in America. Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow, on view starting October 11 and running through April 2023, highlights the long struggle of African Americans for full rights as citizens, including the right to be accepted and to feel safe, with future exhibitions widening the lens to include other historically marginalized groups.

Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow, curated by the New York Historical Society, explores the struggle for full citizenship and racial equality that unfolded in the 50 years after the Civil War. When slavery ended in 1865 a period of Reconstruction began (1865–1877), leading to such achievements as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution. By 1868, all persons born in the United States were citizens and equal before the law, but efforts to create an interracial democracy were contested from the start. A harsh backlash ensued, ushering in the “separate but equal” age of Jim Crow.

This exhibition will examine the meaning of citizenship for African Americans following the abolition of slavery, through Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era.

The exhibition is organized chronologically from the end of the Civil War to the end of World War I and highlights the central role played by African Americans in advocating for their rights. It also examines the depth and breadth of opposition to Black advancement, including how Jim Crow permeated the North. Art, artifacts, photographs, and media illustrate these transformative decades in American history and their continuing relevance today. Exhibition highlights include:

• Portrait of Dred Scott (ca. 1857), a Missouri slave who sued for his freedom and lost after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no Black person, free or enslaved, could ever be a U.S. citizen;
• Thirteenth Amendment (1865), signed by President Abraham Lincoln, which permanently abolished U.S. slavery;
• Slave shackles (1866) cut from the ankles of 17-year-old Mary Horn, who was held captive even after slavery was abolished the year before, until her fiancé asked for help from a Union soldier who removed the chains and married the couple;
• Uncle Ned’s School (1866), a sculpture by artist John Rogers depicting an improvised classroom created by African Americans during Reconstruction;
• Marriage certificate (1874), of Augustus Johnson and Malinda Murphy, who made their long-standing relationship legal during Reconstruction;
• activist Ida B. Wells’ pamphlet Southern Horrors (1892), which reported that 728 lynchings had taken place in just the previous eight years and was written to “arouse the conscience of the American people to a demand for justice to every citizen”;
• World War I toy soldier diorama featuring African American troops in the 369th Infantry Regiment known as the “Harlem Hellfighters”; and
• Maquette for artist Kara Walker’s Katastwóf Karavan (2017), a 2018 public sculpture installed at Algiers Point, New Orleans, featuring provocative silhouettes that depict slavery and racial stereotypes.

Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow concludes with an exploration of Black military service during World War I and the struggle for equality in the decades to follow. With the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act, the most significant civil rights bills since Reconstruction, these laws signaled the end of legalized Jim Crow, though the struggle for full citizenship continued.

The lasting impact of the Jim Crow era has inspired a history of significant racial justice efforts led by Black Miamians. As a supplement to Black Citizenship, HistoryMiami Museum curated Stories of Resistance from Black Miami, an oral history project co-created by the museum and individuals involved in past and contemporary movements, explores Black Miami’s long and ongoing struggle, resistance, and resilience in response to racial injustice. The diversity of Miami’s Black communities, including African Americans, Haitians, Bahamians, Afro-Latinos, and others allows Stories of Resistance to feature culturally diverse perspectives on the trajectory of racial justice efforts in Miami from the 1950s to the present. The exhibition will feature interviews notable activists in Miami including Thelma Gibson, Betty Ferguson, and Lonnie Lawrence.

Major funding for the new initiative was provided by Michael and Julie Weiser.

HistoryMiami Museum is proud to announce it is one of eight Smithsonian Affiliates across the country collaborating on Earth Optimism Youth Action and Leadership for Sustainable Communities (EOYAL), an educational program designed to empower high school students to take environmental action on issues facing their community. HistoryMiami Museum is the only Affiliate participating from Florida in this two-year initiative supported by the Smithsonian. 

Over the course of 2022-2024, HistoryMiami will work with two groups of high school students and their teachers from Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Together with matching funding from HistoryMiami, the Smithsonian will assist HistoryMiami with the funding for field trips, educator stipends, teacher training, seed funding for student action projects, paid student internships, guest speaker honoraria, and mentorship. The program’s overarching goal is to empower students, specifically schools in vulnerable neighborhoods, who stand to suffer disproportionately from climate change.  

“HistoryMiami Museum is excited to partner with the Smithsonian, Smithsonian Affiliate organizations and two Miami-Dade County public high schools on the Earth Optimism Youth Action and Leadership for Sustainable Communities project to deep dive into environmental education,” HistoryMiami’s Manager of Education and School Initiatives, Olgasabrina Rueda, said.  “Students will take on leadership roles and explore current environmental issues facing their communities and will engage with local and national stakeholders as they create solutions to support local communities.” 

By building students’ environmental and justice literacy, and giving them opportunities to practice leadership skills, the Smithsonian, HistoryMiami, and the other Smithsonian Affiliates aim to engender future generations of change makers. Earth Optimism is rooted in hope for the future and focused on all the ways that everyone can become an environmental citizen. 

“Research shows that young people are experiencing high levels of eco-anxiety today. And yet, their knowledge of the causes of climate change and ecological degradation, and the range of successful solutions for a variety of environmental challenges, is limited,” said Brian Coyle and Jennifer Brundage, EOYAL co-directors and Smithsonian staff. “By collaborating with its trusted partners in communities across the U.S., the Smithsonian intends to build a community of practice that provides educators with high-quality resources for teaching and developing environmental leaders and provides students with crucial support to become the changemakers we need them to be in their communities.” 

With the help of mentors, student teams in each city will design an action plan for a specific issue that they will present to a jury of Smithsonian scientists and educators. Student teams will receive seed funding to execute their projects at the community level during the spring semester, and their efforts will be publicized on Smithsonian websites and social media platforms. Additionally, one student from each participating city will receive a paid summer internship to pursue their interest in conservation and sustainability. In addition to HistoryMiami the cohort includes Smithsonian Affiliates in San Francisco, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Bozeman, Mont.; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Dubuque, Iowa; Raleigh, N.C.; and Baltimore, Md. In August 2023, the Smithsonian will host a summit for educators from across the country at its Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland, to discuss the effectiveness of resources, the impact of student actions, and methods for scaling the effort to more schools and communities. 

The Earth Optimism Youth Action and Leadership for Sustainable Communities program (EOYAL) is made possible by the Jeff Bezos gift to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

More than 60 images capture a collision of 2020 events to tell stories of love, disbelief, rage and change.

HistoryMiami Museum is pleased to announce the launch of CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic, created by one of Miami’s most sought-after club DJs, Rahsaan “Fly Guy” Alexander. The museum’s Center for Photography serves as the backdrop for Alexander’s largest show to date, with dozens of never-before-exhibited photos.  The exhibit will open to the public with a VIP event on the evening of August 4 and to the general public on August 5. The exhibition’s more than 60 images are a visual representation of experiences and attitudes resulting from the life-altering year of 2020 when our community struggled with the realities of a pandemic, racial injustice protests, homelessness, and the entertainment industry on the brink of implosion. 

“What started as a cathartic project to lift my spirits during the pandemic became a passion project for future generations that tells the human story of life continuing through tragedy,” said the artist, whose family ties to Guyana, New York, and Miami are central to his work. “While many of the images are jarring, I believe the stories behind each photo will have a lasting effect on everyone by connecting the dots between that moment in time and how human reactions impact others.”

Images focus on themes ranging from protests to nightlife, using both black-and-white and color imagery to tell moving stories of love, disbelief, rage, and change. Alexander’s poignant display is anchored around three of his favorite photos, “Racism is a Pandemic,” “Listen to Her,” and a mesmerizing photo of his mother called “Mom Dukes,” taken from a distance during quarantine.

Along with the photography, HistoryMiami Museum will also showcase Rahsaan’s short documentary film, PIVOT: A 2020 Story, an introspective look at how this Miami resident rekindled his passion for photography.

“Rahsaan’s artistry captures the essence of a great collision of events, all under the pandemic umbrella. His memorable images won’t let us forget what Miami has endured together, and we are pleased to collaborate with him to present his vision to the community,” said Michael Knoll, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Chief Curator at HistoryMiami Museum.

CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic is a project of the HistoryMiami Center for Photography, which aims to collect, safeguard, and share the photographic images that tell the stories of our community and illuminate the Miami experience. The Center emphasizes documentary photography and serves photographers, researchers, and Miami’s diverse public. The opening VIP event for the public will take place on Thursday, August 4, from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Museum with a reception including food, drinks, and entertainment. The event is free to attend. Limited tickets will be available – register here. CAPTURE: A Portrait of the Pandemic runs through January 8, 2023.

The Summer Passport Program, sponsored by AT&T, gives kids and their families free admission to the museum from June 8th to August 16, 2022

HistoryMiami Museum is kicking off its Summer Passport Program, sponsored by AT&T, to provide free access to the museum for all children in Miami-Dade County. The program, which is available from June 8 until August 16, 2022, offers opportunities for children to experience an exciting educational adventure while exploring South Florida’s rich past.

The passports can be picked up at the museum’s front desk, located at 101 West Flagler St., Miami. Each passport offers free admission to children and their family members (up to four people per passport). After every museum visit, the child will receive a stamp in one of the passport’s four boxes. Once all four boxes are stamped, the child will be allowed to pick an exciting prize from a specially curated treasure box.

Throughout the summer, kids and their families can enjoy exhibitions exploring the history of Miami through its permanent displays, as well as collections like It’s a Miami Thing. Features of this exhibit highlight the museum’s vast collection of artifacts and archival materials, such as Seminole patchwork clothing, prints from naturalist John James Audubon’s Birds of America, and treasure salvaged from the 1622 Nuestra Señora de Atocha shipwreck, discovered 35 years ago off the coast of the Florida Keys.

Families can also explore Miami’s cultural diversity and the traditions that give our region its unique flavor in our Folklife gallery, and take part in one of our free family fun days held the second Saturday of the month. In June celebrate Pride, and in July Family Fun Day learn about the sea, and get ready to go back to school with the August Family Fun Day.  

Museum Hours & Fees:

Hours: Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday– Saturday; Open noon – 4 p.m., Sunday Regular museum admission: free for students and their families (up to 4 people total) throughout the summer; for non-passport holders, $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students with ID, $6 for children 6-12, and free for museum members and children under 6